As Vietnam continues to levy a special 25-50 percent tax on beer and
alcohol, the Vietnam Beer, Alcohol and Beverage Association (VBA) recently
proposed that the state administration impose a similar 10 percent tax on
carbonated beverages.

HANOI - Vietnam has deferred the payment of income tax, including tax due
from local and foreign stock investors, for five months until the end of May,
postponing an extension of taxation that should have taken effect in
January.

New regulations such as unemployment insurance policy, 10 kinds of earnings
subject to PIT, cost reduction for fixed telephones, opening of Vietnamese
retail market and others took effect from the first day of 2009.

Under the new Law on Personal Income Tax that will take effect early next
year, about two million people in HCM City will have to pay this tax, including
1.5 million salaried workers, said the HCM City Tax Bureau.